Pet University
Common Health Issues
The majority of cats will deal with at least one of the following infirmities in their lifetime.
Fleas
If your cat gets the common fleas, you will rarely ever see them. However, you will see their droppings which they leave behind. These are located at the base of your cat’s fur.
Ticks
The tick is a bloodsucking parasite which will bury itself in your cat’s fur, particularly in the neck and ear areas. Cats will remove most ticks during their regular cleaning, but sometimes a tick will have imbed itself in a spot where the cat get at it. If you find a tick on your cat, grasp it with tweezers and pull it out slowly. Then, apply an antiseptic to prevent infection.
Obesity
Simply put, the more food your cat eats, the more weight he will gain. A lack of exercise also contributes to weight gain. Some cats can sleep 18 hours per day, leaving only 6 hours for any type of exercise. Cats that are in their senior years are particularly prone to weight gain, as their metabolism slows down and their activity level steadily declines.
Senior Cats
A well kept cat with a healthy lifestyle can live up to a whopping 20 years of age or older, and with this age comes special needs. The following are some examples of common health problems that affect senior cats:
Jumping
Arthritis can affect older cats. Cats are naturally great jumpers, and they make use of this ability many times during the day. When a cat reaches his senior years, he will no longer be able to jump easily. This is especially true of cats that develop arthritis. This condition is particularly common in cats that have had joint injuries in the past. Its effects range from slight stiffness to complete debilitation. Many cats are given glucosamine to relieve the pain and swelling.
Deafness
To help your cat adjust to this change as possible, you will have to make some changes of your own. One thing you can try is to simple talk louder. Your cat may not be completely def so he may be able to catch some words, or at the very least, pick up some vibrations and realize you’re trying to get his attention. Perhaps incorporate some hand gestures as well.
Blindness
As the cat gets older his eye site will begin to deteriorate. The only way to help your cat with this is to be patient with him. You will need to keep a very close eye on him so he doesn’t hurt himself. Also, you can make some adjustments in the house to help him get around, if necessary.
Indoor & Outdoor Exposure
Indoor
In a house, there are still some very dangerous things lurking around. Plastic bags are one item that can be very harmful to your kitty. Cats love to play, so plastic bags looks like a toy to them. If the handle of a bag gets wrapped around his neck, he could easily choke.
Outdoor
The most common way a cat is killed in the outdoors is being hit by a car. Outdoors cats have no limits on where they can’t go. It is very easy for them to wander onto a road and meet with a terrible accident.
Outdoor cats also risk getting caught up in a fight with other animals, which can lead to serious wounds or even death. They are also capable of being trapped in bad weather, such as thunderstorm or snowstorm, where they risk getting frostbite or hyperthermia.
No matter what you do, there will always be dangerous things indoors and outdoors for your cat. Do your absolute best to try to prevent anything you think would be harmful.
Feline Leukemia
Feline Leukemia (FeLV) is a virus/illness that is passed
between cats through direct contact by bodily fluids. Many times it is passed
from cat to kitten during nursing. FeLV can be extremely deadly to kittens;
about a third of kittens with FeLV die.
When adopting a new cat, it is always a smart idea to get them tested for this
diease right away and vaccinated against it, if they haven’t been already. A
cat that has FeLV can exhibit a wide range of symptoms, including anemia, loss
of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea, blood in the stool, and lethargy.
Feline Immune Deficiency Virus (FIV)
This disease is sometimes referred to as Feline AIDS, but is has no real connection with the human AIDS virus. It does, however, mimic some of the symptoms. A simple blood test can determine whether your cat is infected. FIV is mostly spread through bites, so it is more common in outdoor cats and unlikely that an indoor cat will be infected.
As long as your cat visits the veterinarian regularly, he can live for many years after being diagnosed with FIV. Being diligent about veterinary visits is very important however, as FIV affects a cat’s immune system and makes him more susceptible to catching other illnesses.
Presently, there is no cure for FIV, but much research is being conducted on the topic, especially because of the similarities between this disease and HIV in humans. There are several treatment options for FIV that your veterinarian will able to share with you.
Cat Scratch Fever
Cat scratch fever is caused by a bite or scratch. It can affect both humans and cats, but it causes no symptoms in cats. In humans, symptoms can include skin rash, fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, or headache. If symptoms linger, you should consult your doctor.
